Update on proposed mine water treatment scheme

A PUBLIC information day is to be held in Nenthead on 28th February to discuss the progress of a proposed mine water treatment scheme for the Caplecleugh adit.

People are invited to attend the event, which will take place from 1pm to 7pm at the Miners Arms in the village.

Staff from the Coal Authority and Environment Agency will give progress updates on the proposed scheme to clean up the pollution caused by mine water flowing from the Caplecleugh adit.

Andy Edwards, of the Environment Agency, said: “The mine water draining from the Caplecleugh adit is one of the main reasons why more than 60km of the River Nent and River South Tyne is polluted with zinc, cadmium and lead, harming fish and river flies.”

Andrew Brookes, project manager for the Coal Authority, added: “A scheme to treat the water from this adit was initially discussed during public consultations held during 2016-2018. Since then we have reviewed the design of the scheme and where it could be located, and we would now like to share our progress with local residents and businesses.”

He said there would also be an opportunity to hear updates on the schemes that have been successfully installed in the area — at Nenthead car park, Garrigill Burn, the Nenthall check weir and at neighbouring Carrshield, on the River West Allen — as well as the overall approach to tackling pollution caused by the abandoned metal mines within the North Pennines.

Further details about how the Environment Agency and the Coal Authority are tackling water pollution caused by historic metal mining in England can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/metal-mine-water-treatment.